Cooirlna container



UNITED "srArss PATENT OFFICE ELIKU rxoxsox, or swmrscorr, massacnusn'rrs, assmnon, m imam; nearer HEN TB, TO THE GLACIIER CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ooonms coN'rAmEa Original no. 1mm, dated February 22, 1921, Serial no. 349,412, filed Ianuaryi, 1920. a inmibn for reissue flled'l'une 4, 1930. Serial Io 459,232.

a The object of my invention is to provide a container for transporting and preserving products such as ices, ice cream and the like to be maintained below their meltingpoint,

I the inner temperature of which container at all times while in service for its vpurpose is below, or at least never so high as that of-the product to be preserved in the container at a substantially initial temperature at which'it is put mto saidcontainer. Din example of the use'of such a container is the preservation and delivery of a frozen body SllChullS'lCG cream which can be prevented from receiving heat or can be maintained below its freezing gint until it is removed for use, which may at the expiration of hours or even one or more days v Another object of my invention is to rovide additional means for efiiciently ja'c cting my improved primary container by a secondary enveloping heat non-conducting de 1 vice which may take the form of'a heat nonconducting blanket or jacket/for the primarycontaineififor which may be embodied in a '25 secondary container or thermal-insulated receptacle in which the first'or primary contamer is'inserted and efliciently closed there'- by, or so covered as to prevent the absorption or conduction'of heat from the outside, This H 1" piece of apparatus not requiring :Djadditionalfjacketing or this secondary container"or receptacle maybe employed only 1 when it isdesirable to lengthen the period of preservation of the product'or products in the container, such 'as' when'said contain fii s f0 be transportedfior relatively long--distancesor to be kept for a longer periodoftime this would be involved in'the use psuie container alone. It is an object ofmyinvention to so construct the container ior receiving the product to that it shallbe-a permanent of'its contents, but capable of being (bysuitable treatment) uscdover and over; again into surdefinitely. It is,' of course, custo ij '1'bl1nd'l reset-containing a cold product .7 1 such s h space in which there fan is packeda refrigerating mixture such as ice and salt, the age from the outside) takes place, no matter renewal" melting of which (by heatleaks how well protected, at a lower temperature than the freezing point of the contained prod-.

not such as ice cream or ices. The disadvan tage of thisarrangement, however, is great, inasmuch as after every use thereof thebriny. mixture has to beremoved by e s out the brme or other-\mlxture and p aclng t ere in another supply before the container can be used again. In my invention the frozen or' cooled mass which protects the interior prod not from melting has, like the ice and salt, alower melting point than such product, butitexists in a, closed vessel kept closed during no need of opening it. It is prepared with,

its contentsfor use by simple external refrigeration in a suitablerefrigerating apparatus before its use. If it contains (for example) a such that its freezing point is below that of (the product contained in the inner space of the box, itself, to be preserved in a frozen state. The part of my apparatus, therefore,

operation or otherwise, as there is ordinarily which isthe most important and essential structure consists, naturally, or preferabl of an interior space surrounded by -a doub e walled box or inclosure. The space between the walls can be sealed hermetically, having about of its capacity filled with'the'solution ormixture before mentioned, of which.

there are numerous modific ions or combinations. It is best to seal the after Boiling and expulsion of air, thus avoiding'corrosive action on the metal, free 3:? n being absent; inert gas might be u ut the procedure" outlined gives a partial vacuum with only water vapor present; If such 'a box were made ofcopper it would be sufli x hermetically,

cient'to have spaces, formed in its walls for v the reception of the freezing fluid or 'mixture mentioned. This space can be arranged in any desired, form. One ormoreseparate spaces can exist, but it will be most convenient to have an inner vessel set within, as'it were, an outer'vessel, leaving a fairly uniform space between the" two, bottom and e v c sides especially.- Thisgives the simplest construction for such an apparatus. If the meltradical and novel departure. solid and interchangeable block of heat abing point of the solution or mixture contained within the double'walled box is lower than that of the material such as ice cream to be carried or preserved within the interior space,

then such product or contained ice cream will.

not begin-to melt orshow any signs of melting, until the solution in the double walled box or container (which has before use been frozen) has almost completely melted within said box; that is, there could be a very considerable leakage of heat from the outside to such an apparatus without any destructive melting of the ice cream. This in no sense differs from the other method for preserving such a product as ice cream during transportation, but in my invention there is a saving of the necessity of manipulation for renewing the cooling medium outside the vessel centaining the product itself; and this improvement constitutes the novelty of my invention, viz, that I make the cooling medium subject to use over and over again, and thereby constitute it as sealed up, without leakage, a'permanent piece of apparatus. There is, of course, no throwing away or disposing of the brine; and there is no renewed use of salt or ice and no'danger, therefore, of contaminationof the icecream, itself, through leakage with the salt brine outside thereof.

It is believed by applicant that this is a sorbing stuff .were. interposed between the heat entering and the product, so as to intercept or mpede to a high degree the entrance of any of the leakage heat into the product to preserved, and this by virtue of its superlor heat absorbing capacity, or as it may be termed, avidit for heat.

Referringto t e accompanying specification and drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional elevatlon of the improved container of my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of a container showing a second container in which the first is inserted for better thermally insulating the first or primary container; Fig. 3 represents.

a longitudinal sectional elevation of a suitable refrigerating arrangement in which the containers are frozen for use; Fig. 4 represents a method of nesting the containers one within another for more efiiciently thermally inproduct to be maintained or preserved is sulati-ng the inner container in which the ept; and Fig.',5 represents a modification of the means for receiving the cooling or freezing mixture. Asan example of theconstruction whichembodies my invention, reference may be made toFig-Jl of the accompanying drawings where the space} 1s the inside space of'the container into whlch a product such as ice cream or ices,which may be wrapped in paraflin paper when fairly well It is as if a sac surrounding a. separate vessel or wra ping which may be indicated by-2 is a walled vessel, the inner wall of which is marked 3 and the outer wall 4, constituting both bottom and sides inclosing a space which normally-s scale in use. The inner container 2 of thin metal may be dispensed frozen, is introduced. Surrounding thisor ouble with and the product put directly into the in ner space inclosed by the inner wall 3. A lid may be provided, which is preferably double, and between" its walls a good non-conductor is interposed such as eider-down,

granulated cork, felt, or such like material, This lid is marked 5 and has a proper handle 6 for removing it at will and may have an extension at its edge downward to fit themand. The lower the temperature to befsus tained, the more alcohol will be :added. Instead'of alcohol and water glycerin and water may be mixed and introduced, or in other cases a solutionof a salt and'water, such as ehlorid of sodium or sodium hyposulfite may be used; or sulfate of sodium, which latter are highly soluble salts, the ,percentages of the salts which are added to the water being proportioned in accordance with the freezing points-of the material which it may be de-.

sired that such material should have. In general, the more salt present, the lower the temperature which may be maintained It is essential in my invention to provide a space 8, which'is best made nearly vacuous, and the volume of which space above the rest of thefilling material 7 is great enough to allow a free expansion during the freezing of the filling 7, as will be explained. It is sufficient to boil the liquid, which-contains as a solvent say water, and while the air has been driven out through a small opening and immediately solder t 1e opening, thus closing the vessel hermetically. This is by no means essential, but it is desirable. A screw capwith a close fitting washer could be provided and used to close the same after expelling air, or if the space 8 is very considerably enlarged and the material of the vessel is such as not to oxodize, then the expulsion of air is byno means so. necessary,- though in every case it is desirable. The filling or solution 7 should not be so clarified as to be free from nuceli upon which freezing may begin. I I

Assuming'the' apparatus Fig. 1 to be prepared in the way stated, it is now to be made ready for Todo this it is subjected to a freezing process in a suitable apparatus whereby. the heattis extracted from the filling 7 from below in the one case, or as a substitute 110. stop the boiling therefor from the interior only to a great degree, or in any way such that the freezing of the filling solution 7 is progressively from one part of the surface toward the other without inclosing masses of unfrozen solution. I

If the extraction of heat is from below, the solidification or freezing of the salt and water goes on from below upward; and there is no, danger of bursting or deformingthe' vessel 7 10 by expansion. If the freezing takes place from the interior surface toward the exterior,

the exterior being maintained above freezing until the very last, the same thing is true;

.respect, as it is contemplated to use in most instances, as the solution to be frozen, water, on account of its highheat ofliquefaction. Other liquids or solutions might-be used as fillers, instead of those mentioned, prdvided g5 thespace between the walls 3 and 4 is increased in volume as the latent heat of lique faction lessens. If the liquid filler chosen to be frozen does not expand during freezing,

then the precautions during freezing are not 3o necessary. 7 To maintain a substance such as ice cream, which freezes a number of degrees below the. freezing point of water, in condi-.

tion for use as sohdly frozen it would be necessary to select for the filling 7 a-liquid v or. solutlon which freezes belowthe melting point of ice cream, or what is the same thing, i

" to select a 1i aid or solution which, when frozen, lique es on'the addition of heat thereto fromihe outside at a considerably to lower temperature than the point of liquefaction of the contained material such as ice cream.

Thestatement just preceding means that the liquid freezing. mixture is closed in a 4.. vessel and is such as will prevent freezing at 32 Fahrenheit, which would take place if watenalonewere there. At a temperature a few. degrees belowgthefreezing point of water, a small amount of congelation or so freezing begins. The cooling may be continued at a considerab y lower redetermined temperature thane thls, andflt e congelation continued from a fewdegrees below the freezing int of'wat'er to a temperature considers 5-- bly law such freezing point, and a greater.

' a'ndgreater proportionof the liquid mass in the vessel'congeals The' necessary range of freezing, below the freezing point of water,

depends u n of the pro act to be preserved, v v The apparatus Fig. 1 might be used, therefore, to transport a frozen compound, or

a transport any substance requiringto be mainaratively low temperature by n-the initial preservation point tained at a com K? first freezing t e contained material 7, hav- 7 placed therein before or after this process the material to be kept in the space 1. Placing on the cover 5 and wrapping the'whole mass in a blanket or covering, which is of low heat conductivity, will be suflicient in many cases for maintaining the product in the space 1 for hours in proper condition. If the vessel composing the space 1 is of fairly high conductivity metal, or the walls are fairly stout, it will'not be necessary that the space surrounding the same containing the filler 7 be completed as an inclosure, but it could be divided into sections or segments surrounding the interior vessel as indicated in plan ig. 5 where two sets of segments 7' and 7 2 )are shown surrounding the interior space 1.

In regard to making a practical container and completing the device of my invention, I

prefer to provide an outer covering or jacket of any construction which slows up the leakage of heat from the exterior to the inner vesfsel containing the frozen filling 7 In other words, I prefer to place this vessel, with the filler, inside another vessel, the walls of which are, however evacuated as inn-thermos bot tle,or are stuffed witha certain thicknessof such material as felt, cider-down, cork or the like. It is, however, one of the important and practical features-of my invention that no suchthi'ng as a high-grade thermos evacuated receptacle is necessary, inasmuch as the;fro'zen filler 7 can absorb cohsiderable leakage of heat without any damage to the interior contents "contained. Hence, it suflices to inelose for transportation purposes the device 1, 3 and 4 in an outer box or'acket, the inner surface of which maybe in 'cated'by say a thin wall of such material as varnished card 9, I

ing is indicated M13 and the outercover at 14, proper handles 15 and 16 being provided for manipulation, and the edge of the cover at 17 may fit overthe outer vessel as a convenient way of uniting the two for carriage';and of course it follows naturally that a lock or Fig. 2. Directly surrounding the inner walls screw joint or any means of maintaining the two together may be provided so that they do not come anart except at the willof those concerned in opening thevessel;

'With the provis ons'as so it is ible to maintain frozen masses of ices'or ice creamagainst heat I from the cafe-- frior, the eriod of preservation depending.-

uponihe amount-of material 7 which has to be melted before the melting of the interior charge in the space; and, of course, it will also va with the freezing an general properties'of the material tobe point of the material preserved. A product such as ice cream may be necessary to be kept frozen for a longer period, and in this case it may be desirable to have a container 19, Fig. 4, and an outer container, say marked 18, Fig. 4, as a jacket around the i'nnencontainer 19, both having the construction shown in Fig. 1, and both' having been treated in the same way in freezao prepare thesevessels such'as Fig. 1 for a use itis only necessary to subject than either or distort the vessel. I have foundthat if the freezing of a contained liquidsuch as a salt solution, or even water itself, takes place from one part of a vessel to thebther as from the outside to the inside or vice versa, so as not to pocket any unfrozen'masses, the expan'slon during freezlng does no harm, provided a space above the liquid is allowed for such expansion in the completely closed vessel; The same is true in an open vessel, where there is no objection-to leaving it open; but for the purposes ofmy invention the closure 7 is important aspreventingany possibility of losses or spilling and at the same time for preservingfor an indefinite period the apparatus with its filler in condition for refreezing,

and reuse (over and over again), this being an importantelement of my invention in its mostperfectform.

In Fig. 3 there are shbwn three containers to be frozen, or to be kept frozen after the process of freezing is accomplished. Under the vessels is a heat conducting slab through which therefrigeratin -mixture is circulated e ,by a proper pipe, and

E16 slab itself being indicated by the number 20 and a pipe by number 21. Anyjsimilar device may be. employed. The containers rest in heat conduction upon this. slab 20- and sare surrounde by a nonconducting cover or jacket 22 covering them in on all sides during freezing. This jacket is removable for access to the containers so that they may be selected for use. In fact,

Fig." '3 typifies a refrigerator cupboard or V closet for storage or maintenance for one or more of the containers such as Fig.1 in con dition for immediate use, as when a confectioner supplying a number of customers with ice cream. at certain times on order is required to ship or transport it in an unmelted condition,- in which case he selects the proper sized container for receiving the ice cream and preferably'wraps'it up or places it in an outside protecting cover, as in Fig. 2, and

.temperature is retarded.

ships it to the customeril that state. In this way he is able tofill orders with a neatness and dispatch, which up to the present has been impossible, and to avoid all of the (lis agreeable features of jacketing with freezw able mixtures, which are liableto spill and which are unsightly, and which, in fact, may

.leak'into the ice cream container itself, which is often immersed in the briny mixture.

It is to be understood that modifications not departing from the conditions and arrangements herein mentioned in any essential respect may be made without in any sense departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is j 1. A receptacle for preserving frozen products, comprising a container, an adjacent sealed vessel in good thermal relation to said container having an empty space, said-sealed vessel containing a liquid congealing at a temperature a few degrees lower than the softening point of the frozen product, and thermal insulation outside the container and adjacent vessel, whereby the ingress of climatic temperature is retarded.

2. A receptacle containing a frozen product, such as ice cream, a sealed expansion space or vessel adjacent thereto containing a frozen solution having a liquefaction point a few degrees below the softening point of the ice cream, thereby maintaining for a long time its normal frozen state, and a jacket of low heat leakage surrounding the whole.

3. A receptacle for preserving a product comprising a container, a removable refrigerant vessel adjacent to said container but' spaced sufliciently therefrom to provide a convection space there-between yet in good thermal relation to said container, said vessel containing a liquid congealable at a 'tem perature a few degrees below the perishable temperature of the product, and thermal in: sulation outside said vessel.

. 4. A receptacle for preserving a product, comprising a container, a plurality of adjacent refrigerant vessels spaced suificiently therefrom to provide a convection space Y there-between yet in good the mal relation to said container, said vessels co taining a liquid congealable at a temperature lower than substantially 32 F. and having a. predetermined liquefaction temperature a few degrees lower than the. softening temperature of the product, said vessels be ng individually removable, and thermal insulation outside the container and said Vessels whereby ingress of cliinatic- 5. A thermally insp lated receptacle containing a perishableproduct, a plurality of I refrigerant vessels in good thermal relation thereto-yet spaced suificientlv therefrom to i provide a convection space, saidvessels being partially filled with a solution -congeal-,

- able at a tem erature lower than substantial- 1y 32 F. an having a liquefaction temperature a few degrees lower than the normal preservation temperature of said product, i 5 and said vessels being individually removable for freezing the solution therein.

6. A receptacle containing a product to be preserved, a refri erant solution congealable at a temperature elow substantially 32 F. 1 and havin a 1i uefaction temperature a few degrees be ow t e deterioration temperature of said product, a removable sealed vessel containing said solution and non-rupturable by the expansion of the latter onfreezing, 15 said vessel being in good thermal relation to said product yet spaced sufiiciently therefrom to provide a convection space therebetween, an a jacket of. low heat leakage in operative relation to the whole, whereby ingress, of clim matic temperature is retarded and whereby the product is maintained for a long time in its normal state of preservation.

ELIHU THOMSON. 

